Invest oil spill money wisely

With billions of dollars destined for the Gulf Coast from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, it’s no surprise to see a vigorous debate over how to make the best use of this unique opportunity.

Auburn WessmanGuest Columnist

With billions of dollars destined for the Gulf Coast from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, it’s no surprise to see a vigorous debate over how to make the best use of this unique opportunity. But many of us in the business community believe the best solution is clear: We can use Restore Act money to spur the economy while we restore the environment and protect our communities. And we can employ local workers while we do it — a win for everyone.I’m proud to join a diverse group of business leaders from across the Gulf Coast to say we can do it all. We can invite the nation to enjoy our seafood, one-of-a-kind culture, world-class fisheries, outdoors sporting opportunities and tourist destinations; and we can bolster all of this through focusing on investing in ecosystem restoration projects in all five states. We recently sent a letter to Gov. Bobby Jindal and to the governors of Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Texas to encourage the use of Restore Act funds to strengthen job opportunities by restoring our coastal and marine ecosystems. We represent over 120 companies, spanning more than 800 locations across the region, who generate over $20 billion in revenue annually.Here in Louisiana, Gov. Jindal and Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chairman Garrett Graves have crafted a tremendous coastal master plan that acknowledges the importance of a healthy coast for our economic future and sets an example for the entire region. Together with our Legislature, they had the vision to ensure Restore Act resources go into restoring our coast. The master plan also took a forward-thinking approach that acknowledged the value and supported the idea of preparing local workers with job training and placement opportunities to access these new jobs in constructing, designing and administering coastal restoration projects. As a construction firm with years of experience along the coast, Phylway Construction knows these restoration projects create a demand for work from a wide variety of private sector companies. Engineering, construction, transportation and manufacturing firms along the Gulf are prepared to conduct the work of coastal restoration projects, and I have witnessed firsthand that investments in coastal restoration and protection can mean jobs for local workers and economic growth for our businesses and communities. When the public pictures coastal restoration, they sometimes think of volunteers planting sea grass and marsh plants. But coastal projects are more often akin to heavy civil construction projects involving barges, dredges and other heavy equipment and a whole range of different kinds of workers with various skill levels.Studies have found ecosystem restoration projects create between 17 and 36 jobs for every $1 million invested, on par with highway or other infrastructure investments. In Louisiana, environmental projects (like those in the master plan such as building barrier islands, natural shorelines and oyster reefs) are projected to create thousands of local jobs.These projects offer a range of jobs, from high-skill jobs like coastal engineers and geologists, to skilled work like boat captains, welders, construction workers and supervisors, and heavy equipment operators. Many of the jobs in restoration do not require a four-year degree and are well-suited for vocational, short-term and on-the-job training opportunities.Louisiana will benefit from investing in preparing local, low-income and disadvantaged workers for these new restoration jobs through the Restore Act. We have a chance to bring industry, communities, training institutions and government agencies together to identify the skill sets and training necessary. These are the kinds of jobs that can provide hard-working families with good wages and a shot at economic mobility all while ensuring and protecting our local resources and ways of life.As communities continue to suffer the impacts of this spill, Gov. Jindal and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority have a chance to set an example for our region through investing Restore Act funds in both our environmental and human resources. We can tackle the economic and environmental challenges and opportunities by using these funds sensibly and wisely by investing in both restoring our barrier islands, wetlands and fisheries and training the next generation of workers to design, construct and administer these projects that are so essential for ensuring our way of life.

Auburn Wessman is quality control director at Phylway Construction in Thibodaux and a co-signer of a letter from over 120 Gulf Coast businesses to Gov. Bobby Jindal and the Gulf state governors.